With Kimura Takuya (35) in the lead role, Fuji TV’s biggest drama of the upcoming spring season was already a sure-fire hit. Yesterday it was announced that “Change” will have a theme song provided by none other than Madonna (49). The ballad “Miles Away” will be the first song that the singer has allowed to be used for a drama, in Japan or anywhere else. Fuji staff contacted Madonna about the project last December, when she happened to be in the middle of producing her latest album, “Hard Candy”. She had previously met Kimutaku when she appeared as a guest on the “SMAPxSMAP” show in 2005, but the network had little hope that she would agree to the idea. But they say she was taken with the tale of an elementary school teacher who suddenly finds himself in the world of politics and named Japan’s new prime minister. She chose the medium tempo ballad, one of her favorite tracks on the album, as the song best suited to the story. The album goes on sale in Japan on April 30. Newly named to the “Change” cast, which also includes Fukatsu Eri (35), are (l-to-r) the recently married Abe Hiroshi (43), Terao Akira (60) and Kato Rosa(22), all of whom are big enough names to carry a series of their own.
• Former top Takarazuka star Aika Mire (43) has dropped out of an upcoming stage musical due to health problems. She was to star in “Sempo – Japan’s Schindler” at the New National Theater from April 4.
• Actress Ohkouchi Nanako (30) announced yesterday that she is expecting her first child. She is four months pregnant and the baby is due in September. She married stage actor and screenwriter Takuma Takayuki (37) at the end of 2006. Last year they worked together on the TBS drama series “Utahime”, which was written by Takuma.